NEURAL NETWORK

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to explore the possibilities offered by current
Artificial Neural Net (ANN) structures and topologies and determine
their strengths and weaknesses. The biological inspiration behind ANN
structure is reviewed, and compared and contrasted with existing models.
Traditional experiments are performed with these existing structures to
verify theory and investigate more possibilities. This study is conducted
to the end of examining the possibility of using ANNs to create “artificial
life,” which is defined here as a structure or algorithm which displays
characteristics typically only attributed to biological organisms, usually
nonrepeating, nonrandom processes. Although some ANN topology is
shown to be highly similar to that of biological systems, existing ANN
algorithms are determined be insufficient to generate the desired type of
behavior. A new ANN structure, termed a “Temperon”, is designed,
which encompasses more properties in common with biological neurons
than did its predecessors. A virtual environment based on turtle graphics
is used as a testbed for a neural net built with the new type of neuron.
Experiments performed with the Temperon seem to confirm its ability to
learn in an unassisted fashion.